Russia launches major missile attack that impacts nuclear plant

OAN Roy Francis
UPDATED 9:06 AM PT – Thursday, March 9, 2023

Russia launched an attack on Ukraine with more than 80 missiles, and 8 drones early Thursday morning.

Russia’s biggest attack in recent weeks was the missile barrage. It struck several residential buildings and left at least six dead. According to Ukrainian officials, the attack also damaged a nuclear power plant.

“Last night, Russia attacked Ukraine with 81 missiles and 8 Shahed drones,” The Ukrainian Defense Department stated this. “[Thirty-four] cruise missiles and 4 drones were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense. [Eight] [Russian] missiles missed their targets.”

Maksym Kolzytski (Lviv Governor) confirmed the deaths of five victims in an attack on Lviv. Three buildings also were damaged. According to the governor, the death toll could increase as emergency workers deal with the aftermath.

Serhii Lysak, Dnipropetrovsk Governor confirmed that another person was killed and two were injured in other strikes.

The attack also saw the destruction of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This plant is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and was previously taken by Russian forces. It lost its power due to the attack. Energoatom the operator of the nuclear power plant, stated that the plant is dependent on 18 diesel generators, which can reportedly keep the plant running for 10 days.

The sixth time the Zaporizhzhia power plant has suffered power loss since Russia took control. Due to the possible explosion of a meltdown, which could result in severe damage and destruction to surrounding areas, the plant is also causing international concern.

Rafael Grossi is the chief of IAEA, which acts as the United Nations nuclear watchdog. Grossi has called on both sides to establish a zone of protection around the plant. In order to minimize any potential for a serious accident in the conflict, experts were also assigned to each of the four nuclear reactors of Ukraine.

“What are we doing to prevent this [from] happening? We are the IAEA, we are meant to care about nuclear safety,” After Thursday’s attack, he spoke to the IAEA board. “Each time we are rolling a dice. And if we allow this to continue time after time then one day our luck will run out. This is the sixth time – let me say it again sixth time – that ZNPP has lost all off-site power and has had to operate in this emergency mode. Let me remind you – this is the largest nuclear power station in Europe. What are we doing? How can we sit here in this room this morning and allow this to happen? This cannot go on.”

Following the recent attack at Zaporizhzhia, which resulted in a blackout of power supply, IAEA has released a statement outlining the consequences.

“This morning, at around 5am local time, Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost all off-site power when its last remaining 750 kilovolt line was disconnected, its only remaining back up 330 kilovolt line having been damaged a few days ago and under repair,” The agency stated.

In order to cool their cooling system, nuclear power plants must have power at all times. Cooling systems help to regulate plants and keep them from melting. That region saw the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.

The grid operator of Ukraine said Thursday that the power supply had been restored to its nuclear reactor later in the day.